For the last few years, I’ve taken a laid back approach to resolution making and new year resets, given how hectic the outside world has been. There’s no need for any extra pressure, is the wisdom behind this, and that remains true. However, on a personal level, last year really didn’t go to plan at all, and whilst I did achieve some of the things I set out to do (work/life balance made some real steps forward), there was a lot that slipped by the wayside.

My traditional new year post comes with a wrap up of the year just gone and a look ahead to my aims and goals for the next twelve months. The year just gone can be summed up quite simply as chaos - there was so much going on in both work and life that I was supremely grateful to have time off over Christmas just to rest and recuperate. And mostly play Spider-Man 2.

Wahey, we have reached a new year and there’s a fresh 365 days awaiting us. Last year was a bit of a rollercoaster on many levels, and although this is just another night turning into another day, it’s nice to have that clean slate feel of a New Year. I usually take this space to talk about what my aims and goals are for the year but for 2022 I mixed it up with a whole heap of 30 day challenges instead of twelve months concentrating on one thing. In my round up post, I already discussed how brilliant this was - not every task was a success but I learned something from them all and really enjoyed having a structure to the year. Some of those habits have stuck, as well, which is even better.

It’s become a tradition for me to write a new year post on this site, setting out what goals I’m going to try and fail at over the coming twelve months. Last year’s post was a little bit different, as we were all worn down by a pandemic that didn’t seem to be ending any time soon. I finished that post with the optimistic thought: “So here’s to 2021, and hoping that this time next year, we can all start making proper resolutions again.”

Normally at this point, I write a post setting up some goals for the coming year. Like many people, I’m certain that setting new year’s resolutions is NOT the thing to do for 2021. I can’t even bring myself to look at my 2020 post to see the things I wanted to achieve that absolutely didn’t happen. 2020 was an unpredictable and unprecedented year that is best put behind us and even though setting specific goals isn’t the way forward, it’s still worth looking, thinking and hoping that the next twelve months will be better. I was lucky in a lot of ways last year and count my blessings, but for everyone’s sake I’m hoping that 2021 will bring us all good things and life can settle just a little into whatever the new normal is going to be.

This seems to be a bit of a tradition now, making a handful of resolutions on this blog for the coming year. I try not to put too much pressure on myself to achieve these things, because twelve months is a long time and who knows where we’ll all be at the end of it? But sometimes it’s nice to have some guidance, so I’ve got some more for 2020.

I’ve seen a lot of debate recently about the usefulness of new year’s resolutions - are we putting too much pressure on ourselves? Are we pushing for hard to achieve activities when we should be revelling more in what we have and who we are? I think there can be an element of this and I can respect those who don’t care for a resolution one way or the other. I personally think, however, that it’s a great time of year to consider what you’ve done and what you might like to do in the coming months. Self-reflection can be useful.

We’re a week into 2018, and if you made New Year’s Resolutions you will either be celebrating one week down, 51 more to go, or you will be disappointed that you’ve let them slide already. Either way, I thought it was a good time to share the tips that motivate me to stick to habits. New habits are hard, they don’t always stick, I’m not perfect, and that’s why this reminder is as much for me as guidance for anyone else. These aren’t new or revolutionary, they’re just the key five things that will help you continue (or restart) the journey to getting your goals.

It’s this time of year that people start talking about making resolutions. I’m guilty of it too, and I always have those thoughts rolling around my head for New Year: eat less, move more, write more, do more, be better. This year I was all ready to get specific again, and then I realised, it’s not about those measurable goals. Sure, I have plenty of things I want to achieve in 2018 but the overarching thing that I, and the world, needs is not a list of my boring plans.

Apple’s limited edition January-only new year’s activity badge worked it’s magic in our household. The first available week, Mr C and I were both working on maxing out our activity rings each and every day, and it got a bit competitive. Turns out when a badge is limited edition, it really does have a motivating effect. We managed this January one in the first week… come on Apple, what’s next? More badges required!

Although I’ve stopped making specific New Year’s Resolutions (for the most part), there’s always one thing that I try and reboot each January 1st and that is being organised and staying productive. Whether it is trying out a new task list software, or actually finding a use for the notebooks I buy when I raid stationery shops, it is really difficult to end the year in the cool, calm state I start it.

Apple have presented Watch users with a new challenge for January, hoping to encourage people to stick to their new year’s resolutions and get active. A notification on the watch this week highlighted a new and unique badge that can be earned during January 2017 by completing the activity, stand and exercise rings for a full week Monday to Sunday. It’s harder than it sounds, particularly if you’ve spent Christmas lounging on the sofa, but it’s totally doable and I love, love, love the motivation a standalone badge can give you.

Maggie, aka Mighty Girl, is one of the reasons I started my own Life List many moons ago, and I’m always interested to see her take on resolutions, goals and achievements to undertake. Whilst her resolutions this year may be minimalistic, they are none the less inspiring, particularly this one about putting pen to paper/finger to keyboard. Write and write and write and write. It’s like talking, as much as you want, about whatever you want, but no one has to listen to you!

I apologise for the multitude of Film Watch posts recently. I’ve been trying to catch up and sometimes it’s just easier to sit down and schedule a load of posts for the following few days. One of my New Year Resolutions was to reach Film Watch 50, and I think that is going to be achieved fairly soon. Perhaps after that I can work on the going outside thing. I also wanted to point film fans towards Lukeh’s review posts. He’s done two so far with three films apiece, the first features District 9, the second features Lost in Translation. I have seen one of the films he’s reviewed so far! Go me!

Try five new foods Complete the archives of this site Make that fish video Reach Film Watch 50 Go outside more Okay, the last one isn’t exactly quantifiable, and that is the key to achievable goals, but still, it’s an aim. I’m keen to hear your resolutions, if you have any.

I don’t usually make resolutions, as I know I’ll either break them or have forgotten them by the end of January. However, I had already been talked into doing so over at Sidepodcast.com, so I thought I might as well share my three very simple resolutions for 2009. Try and stick to a Wii Fit schedule. I enjoy it when I do it but quite often forget and only remember when I’m tucked up in bed. Be a bit more house proud. I spend a lot of time in the one room - office - and often leave the rest of the flat to ruin. I want to pay more attention and try and keep things “nice”. Stick to one kind of to-do list. In my endless quest to find the ideal to-do list, I have spread my tasks all over the internet, the desktop, and my notepads. If I stick to one, then at least I’ve got a central place to adapt to my needs. Like all good resolutions, you should just start them when you think of them, rather than waiting for a specific day. I have already been mindful of these in the last two weeks, but I think January will be the real test.

Blogging This is the one that has my attention most at the moment. I’ve been thinking recently about changing the layout of the blog, and I did a couple of test designs, but they didn’t really seem to work. Then I realised, I like how my blog looks at the moment. And once I’d decided not to change it completely, I realised that the scope was there to make it better. Don’t ditch it, make it better. So that’s what I’m trying to do.

Learning This is just a short one. I’ve really decided that despite the fact I’m not even sure this is what I want to do, I really need to start making the effort.

Writing I’m always telling myself that I’m a writer, but just lately there has been very little evidence to support that theory. I’m too much of a perfectionist and every time I start to write something, I can’t get past the first chapter without thinking it’s absolutely useless and quitting right there and then. The new plan is to actually get things written. I’ve been writing a few things, and getting my mother to read them, and I think this second opinion is really starting to help me let go of the desire for perfection. If someone else is looking through it as well, then they can suggest any necessary changes, whilst I am writing the next part. And it seems to be working.

Theatre On my new 2006 calendar, I have marked down everything I want to see, and I am totally prepared to go and see everything I have noted. In one particular week, there are three different things on that I want to see!

Fitness I don’t think I have ever felt this uncomfortable in my own skin. Therefore the first of my New Year’s Resolutions is definitely to start doing something about this. My usual plan of action would be to stop any kind of food passing my lips for a week or so and then go back to normal. This time, I’m going to do it properly. Cut down on the biscuits, start doing some exercise (ugh) and try and be a lot healthier.